Page 40 of New Blood (Werewolf Alliance #1)

S howered, Danielle took a deep breath at the door.

It was time to face the pack. She’d slept well in Jude’s arms, but Eve’s accusations and the embarrassment of being caught in the middle of having sex were things she had a hard time forgetting.

Even now, in the light of day, she felt her cheeks flush, but she pulled herself together.

As Jude’s mate, she was in charge of the house now, and she had to act like it.

She couldn’t allow herself to show weakness and hesitation, or her position in the pack would be undermined by women like Flora and Eve.

Love had placed her in this position, and now she had to embrace it, no matter how intimidating it was.

Danielle left the bedroom while Jude was still in the shower. She almost bumped into Parker, who stood outside the door.

“Morning,” he said with a slow nod.

“Good morning, Parker,” she replied. “I think you can probably stop guarding the room now.”

“Yeah, just wanted to make sure you guys are awake.” He tipped his head in the direction of the door. “Is Jude up?”

“He’s in the shower.”

“Alright then. I’d better catch a couple hours of sleep.” He headed down the hallway.

“Thank you again.”

In her bathrobe, she walked to her room and entered.

As she got dressed in fresh clothes, she realized that now that everybody knew about her and Jude, she’d have to move all her clothes and personal items into the master suite.

Then somebody else could move into her room, which would help with housing Jude’s men. She would talk to him about it later.

As every morning, she walked into the kitchen to start getting breakfast ready. Priscilla was already there, making hashbrowns, while her brother was filling hot coffee into several thermos carafes.

“Good morning,” Danielle greeted them.

Both looked up, echoing her greeting. She was glad that only Priscilla and Heath were in the kitchen.

It gave her a chance to tell them the news in private.

She’d always felt close to Priscilla because they were on the same rank within the pack: they were the lowest members, their own wishes rarely considered by the higher-ups in the pack. Until now.

She cleared her throat. “Priscilla, Heath, I have some news. I don’t know how to start…” She searched for the right words.

“You and Jude are mated,” Priscilla said.

Stunned, she stared at her and Heath. “How did you know?”

Priscilla motioned to the kitchen window, which had a good view of the garage. “We ran into Violet earlier when we came in from the cottage.”

Knowing that Priscilla arrived in the main house no later than seven o’clock, she furrowed her forehead. “Violet was up that early?”

“Or rather late, ‘cause she came from the garage,” Heath clarified. “She looked like she was out all night.”

Violet wasn’t one for staying away at night, but maybe what had happened last night had stirred her up, and she’d decided to go out.

“But enough about her,” Priscilla interrupted. “I can’t believe it. You and the alpha.” Priscilla beamed.

“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Heath said and grabbed a tray with coffee, milk, sugar, and jams and left the kitchen with it.

Danielle turned back to Priscilla. “I can hardly believe it myself.”

Priscilla leaned in. “What’ll happen now? You know with Eve and with Flora and the family? Is there gonna be trouble?”

Despite her own qualms when it came to the Gallaghers, Danielle shook her head. She didn’t want Priscilla to worry.

“No. For starters, you will continue living in the cottage with Heath. Nobody can make you share a room with anybody, okay?”

“Thank you!” Priscilla put her arms around her, squeezing her quickly, before stepping back. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

Danielle shook her head, stopping her from apologizing. “Nothing has changed between you and me. We’re still friends.”

And she would need friends, because the next few days would be challenging.

“Now, let’s get breakfast ready for everybody.”

“But you don’t have to do that anymore,” Priscilla protested.

“And let you do all the work by yourself?”

“Priscilla is right.”

At the sound of Violet’s voice, Danielle spun around. Violet entered the kitchen.

“Good morning, Violet,” Danielle said automatically.

“I can help Priscilla with breakfast,” Violet offered.

Surprise rolled over her. Violet hated kitchen work.

She’d never once offered to help with anything in the kitchen.

And why should she? She was in charge of the finances for the pack.

Her time was better spent handling accounting than cooking.

Besides, Danielle doubted that she knew the first thing about preparing food.

Was Violet offering to help because she wanted to get into her good books, now that she was Jude’s mate?

“That’s really not necessary,” Danielle replied. “I have time.”

Violet smiled. “Just let me pitch in. And maybe later you could help me with something?”

So it was a tit for tat. What did Violet want?

“What is it?”

“I have to take my car to the dealership later, and I need somebody to ride back with after I drop it off.”

Relieved that it wasn’t a big ask, she replied, “Of course, I can pick you up. What’s wrong with the car? I thought Heath fixed it last week.”

Violet shrugged. “Neither Heath nor I can figure it out. It’s something with the electronics. That’s the thing with expensive German cars: they have so many electronics in them that you have to run a full diagnostic just to fix a tiny light. Or in this case, the air conditioning system.”

“I know. What time are you dropping it off in San Rafael?”

“At ten. Does that work for you? Otherwise I could call an Uber—”

“That’s not necessary. I’ll pick you up.”

“Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.” Then she turned to Priscilla. “So what can I help you with?”

Danielle cast a look at Priscilla, who was just as surprised as she was that Violet was offering to help. She wiped her hands on her apron.

“The bacon needs to be grilled. But you’d better wear an apron, or you’ll get grease spots all over your clothes.”

While Priscilla opened a cupboard, removed an apron, and helped Violet put it on, Danielle heard a sound at the open door.

She turned her head and saw Jude standing there looking even more handsome in the daylight than last night.

He gestured for her to join him, and she walked to him.

Quickly, he pulled her away from the door into the hallway and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her.

She responded to his kiss with the same intensity, leaving them both breathless within seconds.

Jude severed the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. “Damn, baby, you make me hungry.”

She chuckled. “Breakfast will be ready soon.”

“I wasn’t talking about food, though I won’t say no to some bacon and eggs. Gotta replenish my energy to keep up with my insatiable mate,” he murmured, his hot breath ghosting over her face.

“You think I’m insatiable?”

He laughed softly.

“Jude?”

Austin’s voice made her turn her head in his direction.

“Morning, Danielle. Sorry to interrupt, but Jude and I have got to go over a few things.” He looked apologetic.

“On my way,” Jude replied and gave her a peck on the lips before releasing her from his embrace and turning toward Austin.